Resilient tire.



W. E. CALKINS. aEsILlENr mi. Arucmou mw Nov. 25. 191e.

Patented Nov. 13, 1917.

WILLIAM n. entraine, or wooDWaRnYoKLAHoMA.

nnsILInNT rima.V

Application led November 25, 1916.- Y Serial No. 133,437.

To all whom t may concern.' f

Be it known that l, WILLIAM E. CALKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at 'V'oodward, in the county of Woodward and State of Oklahoma, have invented new and useful improvements in Resilient Tires, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to resilient tires and especially tires adapted for use upon the wheels of motor vehicles, the object in view being to produce a mechanically resilient tire which does away with all the troubles and annoyances incident to the use of inflated or pneumatic tires such as punctures, blow-outs and the like..

A further object in view is to produce a tire of the general character referred to embodying a novel construction and arrangement of parts whereby the tire as a whole may be maintained in a perfect working condition, the resilient tire supporting means being of sectional construction so that part may be renewed without atfectingthe uninjured parts thereof.

W ith the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as herein described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing Figure l is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, of a sufficient portion of a vehicle wheel to illustrate the present invention in its applied relation thereto.

Fig. Q is an enlarged transverse section on the line 2-2 of Fig. l.

Referring to the drawing l designates generally a wheel of the ordinary construction such as is now used in connection with vehicles, the said wheel comprising a rim Z having marginal side lianges 3 upon the outer side thereof.

ln carrying out the present invention, l use. in conjunction with the rim 2, an annular series of yieldable bolsters 4 each of which is preferably in the form of an arcuate spring. Each section 4 is of approximately the same width as the distance between the flanges 3 of the rim 2 thereby preventing relative lateral movement between the members 4 and said rim, the opposite extremities of each spring member 4 resting against the floor of the rim as clearly shown and sulficient space being left between the adjacent extremities of the springs to admit of the full flexibility thereof.

111 the preferred embodiment of this in- Speccaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 13, 1917.

vention, one of such springs or yieldable holsters 4 is used for each of the spokes of the wheel, the extremities of each vmember 4 preferably resting against'the floor of the rim adjacent to the point Vof junction between the spolres and the rim. Each yieldable member 4 is held against movement longitudinally of the rim by means 0f a bolt 5 the outer end of which bears la fixed rela'- tion to one of the series of arcuate tread supporting sections 6 each substantially semicylindrical in cross section and having its concaved side disposed outwardly. Each bolt passes through a tive yieldable member 4 and is encircled by a coiled expansion spring S the outer end of which bears against the inner face of the rim 2 Vand the inner extremity of which is held by a nut 9 threaded on the inner end portion of the bolt 5.

Encircling the entire series of supporting sections 6 is an annular tire body or treadlO which is shown as composed of an endless coil spring the size of which in cross section corresponds with the size of the channeled outer surface of the tread supporting sections 6. If desired, the tire body or tread 10 may be attached or fastened at intervals, to the tread supporting sections 6 in order to prevent the tread or body 10 from creeping longitudinally of the wheel.

The yieldable members 4 resiliently support their respective tread supporting sections 6 and the latter in turn yieldingly support the annular tire or tread 10. The out ward movement of the tread supporting sections 6 is resiliently limited by means of the springs 8 and by adjusting the nuts 9, the sections 6 may be brought into true longitudinal alinement with each other. As the wheel turns under the load imposed thereon, each tread section 6 yields independently of the other'tread sections and is held outwardly and returned to its normal position by means of the respective yieldable member 4. The bolts 5 prevent the members 4 and 6 from moving longitudinally of the rim 2 and together with the members 4 in their relation to the flanges 3 of the rim 2, assist in preventing lateral shifting moveholek 7 in the respecment of said members 4 and the tread supporting sections 6. The inner portions of the members 6 are slidable between the flanges 3 and said members 6 are thus laterally braced by` said flanges.

1 do not desire to be limited to the particular annular' tire body or tread l() hereinabove described and shown in the accompanying drawings as it willfbe apparent that the character of said member l() may be varied according' to the desire of the manufacturer. These and other changes in the form, proportion and minor details of con` struction may be resorted to Withoutdeparting from the principle or sacricing any ofthe; advantagesof the invention.

YI vclaiin': Y The combination with a YWheel rirn having side lflanges, ofan annular series of out- Wardly bowed spring bolsters terminally supported by contact with said rimand-prevented from ,lateral movement bythe rim @Wies at` *thisI patentmay be obtained for vecents each, by addressing the fianges, a bolt fxedly secured to series of arcuate tread each of channeled tor- Hanges, an annular supporting sections respective spring` bolster, said tread supporting sections being slidable between said eachsupporting ysection and passing through the. re-

fspectivespring; bolster and also through the rim, an annular tread supported tread supporting sections, means on said bolts vfor cushioning the out- Ward1 movement of the tread supporting sections.

In testimony by said Whereoff ,aliix my signature.

WILLIAM E. CALKINS.

Commissioner of lPatcntx.

Washington, la). C.

and yieldadilek 

